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Old 03-16-2010, 11:02 AM
 
Location: San Antonio-Westover Hills
6,884 posts, read 20,320,635 times
Reputation: 5175

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Quote:
Originally Posted by tstone View Post
They are crane flies and there were a ton of them this weekend near us.

Why would you want to get rid of mosquito eaters?

They actually don't eat mosquitos. They drink nectar.
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Old 03-16-2010, 11:42 AM
 
Location: Houston
407 posts, read 1,729,221 times
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That's funny. I saw a post on here many many months back from someone that visited. They were complaining about this "giant mosquito" that got into their hotel room. I laughed because it sounded like a crane fly and not a mosquito.

Anyway, what do you call it? I grew up calling these "daddy long legs" but my husband calls them "gallinippers". Confuses the kids.
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Old 03-16-2010, 11:44 AM
 
Location: Clear Lake, Houston TX
8,376 posts, read 30,568,556 times
Reputation: 4718
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mom2Feebs View Post
They actually don't eat mosquitos. They drink nectar.
Interesting their nickname is a misnomer. Personally they don't bother me being around outdoors, since they do nothing. But I'd imagine the Malathion diluted properly in a spray can will keep them away.
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Old 03-16-2010, 12:01 PM
 
Location: Scott County, IA
509 posts, read 1,162,072 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crazymomof3 View Post
Put a bounce dryer sheet in your pocket. Rub it on your skin first.
This.

Also:

Tobacco smoking keeps them away. Blow the smoke all over the place and they will GTFO, at least for a bit.

DEET-based repellents work fairly well.

Lemon grass incense or just burning dried lemon grass keeps all manner of bugs away. I would say that this is an "organic" solution.

I am not a firm believer in citronella (also lemon grass based) candles unless you arrange them in a circle of fire around you. Not enough smoke comes off them to do much good.
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Old 03-16-2010, 12:06 PM
 
Location: Clear Lake Area
2,075 posts, read 4,426,915 times
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Beneficial insects in the garden: #29 Crane Flies (Tipula sp.)

"The main thing to remember is that the adult stage of crane flies is harmless. In fact, their biology is such that their contribution to our ecosystem is largely beneficial because the larvae feed on decaying-organic matter and thus assist in the biological decomposition process."
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Old 03-16-2010, 12:24 PM
 
Location: Houston, TX (Bellaire)
4,900 posts, read 13,665,848 times
Reputation: 4186
Quote:
Originally Posted by karuna95 View Post
Organic solutions:
  1. Screen in your porch/backyard. A more expensive solution, but worth it because you'll have the use of your backyard again. Plus it gives your plants extra protection during the hot summers. My in-laws did this, and it was the best decision they ever made. Now they have a beautiful backyard, because they can go outside and garden to their hearts' content. We have backyard parties all the time at their place .
I have never seen an entire back yard screened in. I would be interested to see a photo if you have one.
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Old 03-16-2010, 12:29 PM
 
2 posts, read 3,370 times
Reputation: 10
I was in that fertilizer store on Bissonnet the other day and they have bid houses for bats. Bats eat a ton of mosquitos. Check it out.
Ray
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Old 03-16-2010, 12:30 PM
 
2 posts, read 3,370 times
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I meant bird houses.

Ray
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Old 03-16-2010, 12:40 PM
 
5,976 posts, read 15,188,330 times
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Default Why?

Quote:
Originally Posted by raycon View Post
I meant bird houses.

Ray
Bat houses is correct, they eat several thousand mosquitos each night. Most people are afraid of bats, however.
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Old 03-16-2010, 01:17 PM
 
Location: San Antonio-Westover Hills
6,884 posts, read 20,320,635 times
Reputation: 5175
Quote:
Originally Posted by tstone View Post
Interesting their nickname is a misnomer. Personally they don't bother me being around outdoors, since they do nothing. But I'd imagine the Malathion diluted properly in a spray can will keep them away.
I know it! I actually wanted to add something to my post but I had to hurry up. Since I was a little kid, I was taught those guys ate mosquitos. I only found out since moving to SA that they don't. I'm telling you, it's bad news at every turn these days. LOL!!
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